The Continuous Improvement Advisory Committee reviewed a June 2026 draft policy that sets a new, formal framework for how Oregon DOT will plan, analyze, and prioritize all “major projects” over 100 million from planning through construction. Starting October 1, 2026, every such modernization project must go through defined steps for project development, 30 percent design, and 60 percent design before the Oregon Transportation Commission can program funding in the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program. The framework requires detailed scope descriptions, risk-based cost estimates, value engineering, constructability reviews, benefit–cost analysis, phasing strategies, and finance plans using federal, state, local, and debt financing.This is a pre-RFP signal that ODOT will be systematically advancing multiple large projects through planning, NEPA, preliminary engineering, design, and construction, creating recurring needs for technical studies, program management, financial planning, risk and cost analysis, VE/constructability, and environmental/traffic modeling services. Vendors that can help ODOT meet these new analytical and reporting requirements can position themselves ahead of individual project procurements as the policy is finalized and implemented in late 2026 and beyond.

The process is tied to the Major Projects Quarterly Report (MPQR), which will track status and stage for all qualifying projects and is on a fixed 2026 reporting cadence to the Oregon Transportation Commission and Legislature.